Cold weather a health hazard

Tuesday

Jan 7, 2014 at 10:40 PM

Every year health care professionals warn the masses about weather-related health hazards. With temperatures going below freezing, it's even more important to be aware of frostbite and hypothermia, said Dr. Timothy McKnight, a family practitioner with Trinity Hospital Twin City in Dennison.

Every year health care professionals warn the masses about weather-related health hazards. With temperatures going below freezing, it's even more important to be aware of frostbite and hypothermia, said Dr. Timothy McKnight, a family practitioner with Trinity Hospital Twin City in Dennison.

Frostbite causes loss of feeling and color mainly to fingers, toes, the nose, cheeks and ears, he said. And hypothermia means having a low body temperature which can cause severe health problems and gone untreated — death.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, 27 people died from hypothermia in 2013, which is down from 38 in 2012, 49 in 2011 and 60 in 2010. While numbers are decreasing, McKnight said its better to avoid issues all together and be aware of the signs.

"The main thing is, there isn't a one-size-fits-all recommendation," he said. "Use common sense. Take precautions when traveling. Stay dry and wear layers of clothing."

If a person must go out in the cold, McKnight said to wear layers of clothing and cover wear a hat, gloves and a scarf.

"The first layer of clothing should be wool or silk," he said. He said there is a layer of air between clothes and skin and that wool or silk material maintains heat better than cotton.

He said to peel off any wet clothing, and be aware of cold gusts of air. He also said the room temperature should never go below 68 degrees. "You don't want to expend energy being warm when you're inside," he said, explaining the body spends a lot of time fighting to be warm when a person goes outdoors.

And those most at risk for frostbite and hypothermia are infants, elderly and those using medications or experiencing thyroid issues that prevent them from maintaining their body heat. He also said those using alcohol will prevent the user from realizing the loss of heat.

McKnight said it's important for individuals to recognize the difference between frost nip and and frost bite. Frost nip which "is a numbness and tingling say in the fingers after you've been out for a little bit."

He said the that ice crystals form on top of the tissue cells. "If it's a quick enough freeze, you can actually get ice crystals inside the cell. Then when it rewarms it causes fluid shifts, causing the cells to die, and then you get an inflammatory response and complications depending on how big of an area is involved."

If something like this occurs, McKnight said the affected person can use warm, not hot, water and to avoid any truly hot items as an individual may get burned. He said people shouldn't walk on frostbitten toes or feet as it will make the issue worse, and to avoid rubbing of the face.

McKnight said the biggest concern is hypothermia, which is low body temperature resulting in shivering, an elevated blood pressure, rapid heart rate and an increased respiratory rate.

McKnight said the first symptoms of hypothermia are a result of the body trying to keep the vital organs heated. He said a person's temperature will drop between 90 and 95 degrees, while the blood flow is redirected from extremities such as hands and feet to the heart and the brain.

In this state, a person can still convey their issues. "They would be cold, and you'd see some of these signs," he said.

If the freezing state continues, the person's health is further jeapordized. "In early stages of freezing a person can drift off and become apathetic. Their judgment is impaired, and they have a different altered mental status. Call 911, have EMS get them to where they need to be," McKnight said. "It's where you're semi-comatose. You can be wakened and aroused."

So far Trinity Hospital Twin City hasn't reported any hypothermia or frost bite issues, McKnight said. None of these issues were reported at Union Hospital in Dover either. However, there was an influx of patients complaining of respiratory problems, according to hospital spokesman Carey Gardner.

"There's going to be weather, or weather condition related medical problems that aren't necessarily reflected in the data," Gardner said.

Gardner said extreme weather is often responsible for exasperating chronic conditions especially upper respiratory issues such as asthma or COPD.

He said there are also issues such as someone slipping on ice and breaking a limb or the person who had a heart attack shoveling snow.

"In the summer time, same thing," Gardner said pointing out that extreme heat causes fatigue and issues with overexertion.

Record lowsThis week's blast of arctic air helped set record low temperatures throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia on Monday and Tuesday.Record lows on Jan. 6New Philadelphia: -9; previous record low, -6 in 1981;Zanesville: -8; previous record low, -3 in 1959;Pittsburgh: -7; previous record low, -5 in 1942;Wheeling, W.Va.: -9; previous record low, 10 in 1953;Morgantown, W.Va.: -4, previous record low, -1 in 1988

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